8 posts tagged “games”
Gen Con last weekend was a good time. Unfortunately, I've been busy with plenty in "the real world" since I've been back. Here are some pics:
Here's a picture of some of the World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade kiosks.
I know some of you would have loved for me to play as the new races and report back, but it just wasn't a priority. I tend to spend cons like this exploring entirely new stuff, or things I haven't checked out for some time. This year, I really got into Dungeons and Dragons again. I have no idea why. It's just what "clicked" for me this time around.
Gotta love cards put to good use:
And here's a Gen Con staple; a virtual sea of dice:
Hopefully I'll make it back next year!
Today I got to sit down and try CSE Games' NHL Ice Breaker Card Hockey Game. It plays fast, is easy to pick up, and has more advanced options for more strategic play (I have not had a chance to play by those rules yet, however.)
The main mechanic of the game is a modified deck of standard playing cards. Players start a "shift" with five cards in hand, and play cards in a "war" like fashion. (example: both players flip over a card. If the first player flips over a 6, and the other flips over a 4, the 6 wins...unless the other player drops another 4 and the first player cannot drop a six. This tug-of-war sends the puck across the ice, in a direction and distance determined by the cards. If a player makes it into his opponent's "shooting zone," they both flip over a card, and if the offensive player wins, he scores.
Hands are refilled at game stoppages, or "on the fly" if a hand is completely exhausted. This mechanic has strategic consequences. For example, when a goalie makes a stop, he can freeze the puck, or tap it back in, depending on the situation. Landing on yellow outlined squares triggers an "Ice breaker" which can be good or bad for the player.
The game makes use of the NHL teams by providing three "trump" cards for each team. Each team has either 2 "offensive" trump cards and 1 "defensive" one, or visa-versa. These come into play when a team is making (or attempting to block) a shot.
The game plays in three "periods" - three runs through of the deck. Scoring is very true to hockey. The game plays fast, does a good job of capturing the feel of hockey, and, above all, is fun. If you have the chance, give it a try.
One of the earliest items I got to check out here at Gen Con was Open Mind Games Combat Pad. This item looks to be a great aid for Game Masters of d20 role-playing games. Essentially, it is a magnetic board upon which the GM can keep track of parties and NPCs in initiative order, as well as track the number of rounds that have passed.
Additionally, the GM can make notes in the left-hand area, and track spells and effects that have a round-based duration. The board and the counters that come with it are "wet-erase."
The board could be made of thicker material, but at a suggested retail price of $16.95, it should be a welcome addition to any gaming group.
I got to watch Jim, Murray, and two others try to take on a black Dragon.
So...the black dragon they thought they'd face is actually that big red guy! Nice!
As always, Wizards has a huge site at Gen Con.
